Core catcher



June 6, 1939. D. MAcKENzlE Er AL GORE CATCHEB Filed Jan. 7, 1938 Syvum Patented June 6, -1939 com: cA'ronEn Donald Mackenzie and John E Hoiioss, Houston, Tex., assignorsto Reed Roller Bit Company, I-Ioustou, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application January 7, 1938, Serial No. 183,788

8' Claims.

This invention relates in general to core drills'A particularly has reference to a device commonly known as a core catcher, which device is located adjacent the lower end of the barrel for receiving the core, and is for the purpose of breaking the core olf, and for holding the core and preventing it from dropping out through 1g the .bottom of the core barrel during. the time that the core barrel is .being drawn up to the topv o f the well.

It is an object of this invention to provide a core catcher which shall be of simple construcl tion and eillcientin operation.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a core catcher which will bel less expensive to manufacture than previous core catchers,'and which will be unfailing in its operation.

One other object of this invention is` to provideacore catcher composed of a relatively small number -of component parts requiring the least possibleamount of labor to proxce and assemble.

Another object of this invention is to provide a core catcherwhich will be extremely durable and require a minimum of repair and. attention.

Another object is to provide a core catcher Other objects and advantagesof this inventionwill become apparent from the following description taken in ,connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein one embodiment of this iu- 0 vent-Ion is illustrated. Itis to beunderstood that this embodiment and' illustration is not b y way of 1imitation,`=bu t by way oi` explanation and illustration, and that this invention is limited in its scope only by the priorsartyadfby the terms of the'appended claims. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cro/y sectional view illustrating a core catcher c 'structed in accordance with this invention, and/ howing its relation t a core bit when in-use the ein.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross the line 2--2 of Fig. 1./ Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the section'taken alongl core catcher body showing the bearing' sockets for y 5g receiving the core catcher finger bearing pins.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section take along theline 4-4 of Fig. 2.

'Ihe core catcher illustrated in Fig. 1 'is shown as beinglocated within the'lower end of the core barrel I and held in place therein bymeans` of a shoulder in the lower end of 'the core bit 2.

The principal part of the'core catcher illustrated comprises the body 3 which is formed with `a 'plurality of slotsV therein extending from its `lower end upwardly as illustrated at 4. Within these slots 4 there are disposed core catcher fingers `5 and' 6, these fingers being .rotatively mounted upon bearing pintles 1 integral with the fingers 5 and 6 and extending in opposite directions therefrom. The pintles 'l are formed with frustoconical end portion. The pintles 1 are pivotally mounted in grooves 9 formed in the lower edge of the body 3 and extending in opposite directions from each of the slots 4.

l Each Aof-the fingers 5 and 6 isxformed with a: notch I0 midway of its base between the pintles 1 for the purpose of receiving a coil spring .I I. .One end of this spring extends lengthwise of the pin through an opening therein as indicated at I2 and the opposite end I3 extendsinto an opening in the inwardly extending flange I4 on the ,lower end of the retaining collar I5. 'I'he retaining collar I5 serves, when in -position on the body 3, to hold the pintles 'I in place in the /grooves 9 and thus retain the core catcher fingers 5.and 6 in position, in addition to serving as an anchor for one end of each of the finger actuating springs I0., and is secured in place on the body 3 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced rivets I 6 or the like.

It .will be understood from the foregoing that in the curse of taking the core with a core drill .equipped with the core catcher described, the

5 and 6 moving them upwardly against the tension of the springs Il.

`When the core has reached the` length desired, the cutting of the core will cease and the core barrel, including the core catcher, will be moved upwardly. This will cause the core catcher elements 5 and 6 to swing inwardly and separate the core from the formation at its lower end, and thereafter retain the core within the core barrel. The lingers 5 and 6 will, of course, be caused to move inwardly when the core barrel is pulled up because of the tension of the springs II.-

.Itis' to be noted that in the construction illustrat-ed, there is provided a structure having a subpractically no resistance to the passage of a core therethrough in an upward direction. This is because the elements 5 and 6 are mounted within the slots I, and when in their up position their inner surfaces are substantially ilush with the' inner walls of the body member 3.

'Ihe construction is also extremely simple in that the ngers and their pivots are integral and are all secured in place by a single retaining element, which also serves as an anchor for all` the springs which urge the catcher iingers to operative. position. Y. 'Ihe springs are mounted in a position where they will be best protected from the action of slush, etc., and yet efficiently performv their intended function.

The design of the parts also is such as to render them easy to machine, the grooves 9 extending entirely across a segment of the end of the member 3, and the machining of the bearing pintles being, a simple lathe operation. Ease of assembly is also noteworthy, the only step which can- A not be performed withoutl tools being the riveting at I8.

AIn view of .the foregoing, it will be seen that a means has been provided for accomplishing all of the objects sought by this invention.

We claim:

1. In a core catcher assembly, a ring shaped body member having one of its ends notched at circumferentially spaced points and grooves in the face of .said end at 'right angles to and extending on opposite sides of each ,of said notches respectively, a plurality of -core catcher ngers .tendingiiange in engagement with the end of :Said body member to retain said pintles in said grooves, said ilange having bores therein receiving Aand anchoring 'the opposite endsof said springs, said springs when so anchored tending to force said fingers downwardly and-inwardly, and means for securing said retaining ring in place on saidA body.`

2, In a core catcher assembly, afring shaped body member Ahaving .one of its ends notched at circumferentialiy spaced points and grooves in the-face of said end at right angles to and extending on opposite sides of each of said notches, re-

spectively,a plurality ofurcorecatcher ilngersmounted in said notches, respectively, and having integral bearing pintles lying in said grooves on Opposite sides of said notches-to pivotaliy mount said lingers, and means to retain said pintles in said grooves.

3. In Iav core catcher assembly. a ring shaped body memberrhaving one of its ends notched at lsaid pintles in said grooves.

stantially smooth internal bore which will offer.

circumferentially spaced points and grooves in the face of said end, a. plurality of core catcher ilngers mounted in said notches,A respectively,and having'bearing pintles lying' in said. grooves to pivotally mount said finger, each of said ngers having a notch intercepting the axis of said pintles, a spring element within each of said notches for urging said ngersdownwardly and inwardly about the axis of said pintles, and means for retaining said pintles in said grooves and anchoring said spring elements.

4. In a core catcher assembly, a ring vshaped body vmember having circumferentially spaced openings, therein, a plurality of core catcher ngers pivotally mounted in said openings, respectively, each of said ilngershavinga notch therein intercepting the axis of its 'pivotal mounting, and a spring element within each o't said notches having one end ttin'g snugly into an opening in the inger and the opposite end fitting-l snugly into an opening in said body member, said springs being tensioned to urge said ngers inwardly and downwardly with respect to said body member.

5, In a core catcheringer, an elongated blade. and a pair of aligned oppositely extending pintles integral with said blade adjacent one end thereof, Said finger having an open notch intermediate said pintles and a spring mounted in said notch and adapted t9 urge said blade to rotate about said pintles. as an axis. l

6. In a core catcher assembly, a ringJ shaped body member having one of its'ends notched at circumferentially spaced points and having grooves in the tace of said end at right angles to and extending on oppositesides oi each oi' said notches, respectively, a plurality of 'core catcher fingers mounted in said notches, respectively, and having bearing pintles lying in said grooves on opposite sides ,of said notches-to p lvotally mount said fingers, and means to retain 7. In a core catcher assembly, a ring shaped body member having recesses opening through its inner wall adjacent one end thereof. aligned grooves in the face of said end extendingl on opposite sides of each of said recesses, respectively,- a .plurality. of core catcher lingers' mounted in Said recesses, respectively. 'bearing means lying in said grooves and pivotally supporting ysaid ilngers, and means to retain said bearing means insaidgroovea'."

8.' In a core catcher assembly, a ring shaped body member having recesses opening through'its inner wall adjacent one end thereof, bearing re`- cesses'in the face of said en'd intersecting said iirst mentioned r w: a respectively, ra plurality f core catcher lingers mounted in said recesses.

"respectively, bearingmeans lying in said bearing recesses and pivotally supporting said ngex's,`

fand means toiretain said bearing means in said' l bearing rec.

DONALD MACKENZII. JOHN E.. HOFFOBS. 

